TORONTO — One fan yelled, “Way to bring it home, Davey!” Another called out, “Same time next year!” And as Dave Bolland stood and hoisted the Stanley Cup high above his head while being driven down Mimico Avenue in a vintage fire truck, a “Go Leafs go!” chant broke out.

If you squinted hard enough into the midday sun, it might have looked like the Toronto Maple Leafs had finally ended their 46-year championship drought. And while that was not the case, do not count out next year.

“Oh for sure, that’s what you want,” said the 27-year-old Bolland, who won the Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks but is now a member of the Leafs after a trade. “Whenever you go into camp, that’s what we go for. You’re always working towards a Stanley Cup. That’s our big goal. We’re striving for that.”

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To that end, plans are being made. Tim Leiweke, the new head of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, made headlines two weeks ago when he said he had already mapped out the parade route. On Thursday, the Leafs’ official Twitter account sent out a picture of Bolland holding the Cup with the accompanying tweet, “He’ll be back next year wearing a #Leafs jersey.”

Wishful thinking? Perhaps. Toronto finished fifth in the Eastern Conference last season and lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Boston Bruins. Despite an active summer in which they snared prized free-agent forward David Clarkson and traded for Bolland and goaltender Jonathan Bernier, online gambling site Bodog.com still has the Leafs listed as 25-1 favourites to win the Stanley Cup.

Not that anyone thinks rationally in the summer.

About 100 kids mobbed Bolland, who was wearing a blue T-shirt — the closest thing to a Leafs jersey — when he first arrived with the Stanley Cup at Mimico Arena Skating Rink in the southwest corner of the city. Someone playfully asked what was worst: this scrum or the one in front of the net when he scored the championship-clinching goal?

“This one,” Bolland said without even thinking. “You see what this Cup brings and the tradition around it when you bring it to one place. Whenever this Cup goes anywhere, there’s people around it.”

If we ever win with the Maple Leafs here, I think we’ll probably go from the 401 down Yonge Street to the lakeshore. I think it will be absolutely crazy

Bolland, who also brought the Cup back to Mimico in 2010, was given one day with the trophy. He visited a children’s hospital in London, where he played junior hockey and now lives, and a golf club. But he spent most of the day back in his hometown. Thousands — some wearing Leafs sweaters and some wearing Blackhawks sweaters — lined Mimico Avenue as Bolland waved from the fire truck and stopped to sign autographs and show off the Cup.

To some, it felt like this could be a dry run — albeit on a smaller proportion.

“I’d love to see one next year,” said Mark Grimes, Toronto city councilor for Ward 6, who organized the parade. “I’d love to see one in blue and white. If we ever win with the Maple Leafs here, I think we’ll probably go from the 401 down Yonge Street to the lakeshore. I think it will be absolutely crazy.”

The hope is that Bolland, who was traded for a trio of draft picks less than six days after scoring the Cup-winning goal in Game 6, can bring some of that magic to Toronto. No question, the Leafs could have used his experience when they collapsed in the first-round series to the Bruins.

“Davey’s been a winner all his life. It follows him around,” said Dave Babstock, who coached Bolland in lacrosse. “Hopefully it can follow him to Toronto.”

Even Chicago fans — at least those living in the area — hope to see Bolland back for another parade.

“I’ll be happy for him if it happens,” said Bernie Laurin, who wore a Blackhawks sweater. “As for the Leafs, I’ll be happy for the city if they win.”